ASU Announces Top Academic Appointments

November 16, 2012

Angelo State University President Brian J. May has appointed Dr. Nancy Allen as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs until a national search can identify a permanent successor to the position.

Additionally, Dr. May has announced that Dr. Paul Swets, who has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since September of 2011, has been appointed permanent dean for ASU’s largest college. May, who had served both as provost/vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College of Graduate Studies until his appointment as president earlier this month, will continue to serve as graduate dean until a new provost is hired.

May said, “Dr. Allen’s experience as vice provost will provide for a smooth transition until a new provost is named. She has been and will remain an asset to the university’s academic programs. Likewise, Dr. Swets has shown great skill as a dean on an interim basis the last 15 months and is well prepared to assume those responsibilities permanently.”

The search for a permanent provost, May said, will begin this month. Allen, a professor of English who has served as vice provost since 2008, will not be a candidate for the permanent position. Swets, a professor of mathematics, has served as interim dean of arts and sciences since 2011.

Allen joined the Angelo State faculty in 1984 and advanced through the academic ranks to English Department chair, a position she held for five years until becoming vice provost for undergraduate education. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and then went on to receive her master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas Tech University.

Swets became an ASU faculty member in 1998 and advanced to chair of the Mathematics Department in 2004. Swets earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.